Puruṣottama-kṣetra-māhātmya · Chapter 19
Source।। जैमिनिरुवाच ।। ।। ततः स पृथिवीपालस्तथा कृत्वांऽतरिक्षगा ।। यदुवाच गिरां देवी तद्वत्परिचचार ह ।। १ ।। एवं दिनेदिने याते दिव्यगंधोऽनुभूयते ।। पारिजातप्रसूनानां वृष्टिर्मर्त्येषु दुर्लभा ।। २ ।। दिव्यसंगीतनादश्च गीतानि रुचिराणि च ।। स्वर्गंगाजलवृष्टिश्च सूक्ष्मबिंदुसुशोभना ।। ३ ।। ऐरावतादिनागानां मदगंधो वनद्विपैः ।। दुःसहः सर्वभूतानां सुखकार्यनुभूयते ।। ४ ।। यज्ञार्थमागता देवास्ते सर्वे विगतज्वराः ।। आविर्भूतं हरिं दृष्ट्वा उपासांचक्रिरे द्विजाः ।। ५ ।। यथा हि माधवं पूर्वं तथा तं विष्णुशाखिनम् ।। उपासनासु देवानां दिव्यचिह्नानि जज्ञिरे ।। ६ ।। निर्ववाह स्वयं देवः क्रमात्पंचदशे दिने ।। चतुर्मूर्तिः स भगवान्यथा पूर्वं मयोदितः ।। ७ ।। तादृगाविर्बभूवासौ युष्माकं वर्णितः पुरा ।। दिव्यसिंहासनगतो बलभद्रासुदर्शनैः ।। ८ ।। शंखचक्रगदापद्मलसद्बाहुर्जनार्दनः ।। गदामुसलचक्राब्जं धारयन्पन्नगाकृतिः ।। ९ ।। छत्राकृतिफणासप्तमुकुटोज्ज्वलकुंडलः ।। सुभद्रा चारुवदना वराब्जाभयधारिणी ।। 2.2.19.१० ।। लक्ष्मीः प्रादुर्बभूवेयं सर्वचैतन्यरूपिणी ।। इयं कृष्णावतारे हि रोहिणीगर्भसंभवा ।। ११ ।। बलभद्राकृतिर्जाता बलरूपस्य चिंतनात् ।। क्षणं न सहते सा हि मोक्तुं लीलावतारिणम्।। १२ ।। न भेदोऽस्तीह को विप्राः कृष्णस्य च बलस्य च ।। एकगर्भप्रसूतत्वाद्व्यवहारोऽथ लौकिकः ।। १३ ।। भगिनी बलदेवस्येत्येषा पौराणिकी कथा ।। पुंरूपे स्त्रीस्वरूपेण लक्ष्मीः सर्वत्र तिष्ठति ।। १४ ।। पुंनाम्ना भगवान्विष्णुः स्त्रीनाम्ना कमलालया ।। देवतिर्यङ्मनुष्यादौ विद्यते न तयोः परम्।। १५।। को ह्यन्यः पुंडरीकाक्षाद्भुवनानि चतुर्दश ।। धारयेत्तु फणाग्रेण सोऽनंतो बलसंज्ञितः ।। १६ ।। तस्य शक्तिस्वरूपेयं भगिनी श्रीः प्रकीर्तिता ।। सुदर्शनं तु यच्चक्रं सदा विष्णोः करे स्थितम् ।। १७ ।। शाखाग्रस्तंभमध्यस्थं तद्रूपं तत्तुरीयकम् ।। एवं तु मूर्त्तयस्तेन चतस्रो वै प्रकाशिताः ।।१८।। निर्वृत्ते भगवद्रूपे चतुर्द्धा दिव्यरूपिणि ।। लोकानामुपकाराय पुनराहांतरिक्षगा ।। १९ ।। पटैराच्छाद्य सुदृढं नृपते प्रतिमास्त्विमाः ।। स्वं स्वं वर्णं प्रापयाशु वर्णकैश्चित्रकर्मणा ।। 2.2.19.२० ।। नीलाभ्रश्यामलं विष्णुं शंखेंदुधवलं बलम् ।। रक्तं सुदर्शनं चक्रं सुभद्रां कुंकुमारुणाम् ।। २१ ।। नानालंकाररुचिरां नानाभंगिविभागशः ।। अमी दारुस्वरूपेण दृष्टाः पापाय हेतवे ।। २२ ।। गोपनीया प्रयत्नेन पटनिर्यासवल्कलैः ।। तस्मात्प्रथममेवैतांस्तरोरेवास्य वल्कलैः ।। २३ ।। शिल्पिभिः कर्मकुशलैर्दृढमाच्छादयाग्रतः ।। वर्षे वर्षे च संस्कार्याः पूर्वसंस्कार मोचनात् ।। २४ ।। ऋते वल्कललेपं तु स तु दिव्यश्चिरंतनः ।। प्रमादाद्य इमं लेपमपनीयेत कश्चन ।। २५ ।। दुर्भिक्षं मरकं राष्ट्रे संततिश्चास्य हीयते ।। नेक्षितव्यास्त्वया राजन्कदाचिदपवारणाः ।। २६ ।। मनुष्यैश्चापि राजेंद्र दृष्टाः स्युर्भयहेतवः ।। तस्मात्सचित्रा द्रष्टव्या बहुलेपविलेपिताः ।। २७ ।। सुचित्रं पुण्डरीकाक्षं सविलासं सविभ्रमम् ।। दृष्ट्वा विमुच्यते पापैः कल्पकोटिसमुद्भवैः ।। २८ ।। सुचित्रान्कुरु राजेंद्र चित्रान्कामानवाप्स्यति ।। आविर्बभूव भगवांस्तवानुग्रहकाम्यया ।। २९ ।। तव प्रसादाज्जंतूनां चतुर्वर्गं प्रदास्यति ।। नीलाद्रौ कल्पवृक्षस्य वायव्यां शतहस्ततः ।। 2.2.19.३० ।। प्रदेशे सुमहत्स्थाने प्रासादं सुदृढायतम् ।। उत्तरे नरसिंहस्य सहस्रकरमुच्छ्रितम् ।। ३१ ।। कारयित्वा प्रतिष्ठाप्य तत्रैनं विनिवेशय ।। पुरा स्थितं पर्वतेऽस्मिन्योऽभ्यर्चयति माधवम् ।। ३२ ।। नाम्ना विश्वावसुर्नाम शबरो वैष्णवोत्तमः ।। पुरोधसः सख्यमासीत्तेन सार्द्धं पुरा च ते ।। ३३ ।। तयोः संततिरेवास्य लेपसंस्कारकर्मणि ।। नियुज्यतां महाराज भविष्यत्सूत्सवेषु च ।। ३४ ।। विररामैतदाभाष्य सा तु दिव्या सरस्वती ।। तयोपदिष्टमाकर्ण्य प्रहृष्टेनांतरात्मना ।। ३९ ।। वेष्टनं मोचयामास महावेद्या नृपोत्तमः ।। ददृशुस्ते तदा सर्वे रत्नसिंहासने स्थितम् ।। ३६ ।। रामं कृष्णं सुभद्रां च वासुदेवं सुदर्शनम् ।। यथोपदिष्टलेप्यादिसंस्कारे रुचिराकृतिम् ।। ३७ ।। कृपया स्मेरवदनमुन्नतायतवक्षसम् ।। दीनानामुद्धृतौ नाथं प्रलंबभुजपंजरम् ।। ३८ ।। प्रबुद्धपुण्डरीकाक्षं हासशोणायताधरम् ।। पश्यतां दृष्टिमात्रेण हर्तारं पापसंचयम् ।। ३९ ।। पद्मासनस्थितं कृष्णं दिव्यालंकारभूषितम्।। स्वतेजसा परिवृतं दारुदेहेऽपि निर्मलम् ।। 2.2.19.४० ।। नीलजीमूतसंकाशं सर्वसंतापनाशनम् ।। ददर्श बलदेवं च साट्टहासमुखांबुजम् ।। ४१ ।। फणामण्डलविस्तीर्णं वारुणीघूर्णितेक्षणम् ।। प्रोत्थितं नागराजानं पीनोन्नतसुवक्षसम् ।। ४२ ।। किंचिन्नतं पृष्ठदेशे कुण्डलीकृतविग्रहम् ।। अग्रसंफुल्लककुभं कैलासशिखरं यथा ।। ४३ ।। हलचक्राब्जमुसलधारिणं वनमालिनम् ।। हारकुण्डलकेयूरकिरीटमुकुटोज्ज्वलम् ।। ४४ ।। तयोर्मध्ये स्थितां लक्ष्मीं सुभद्रां भद्ररूपिणीम् ।। ४५ ।। सर्वदेवारणीं पापसागरोत्तारकारिणीम् ।। विकचांभोजवदनां वराब्जाभयधारिणीम् ।। ४६ ।। रूपलावण्यवसतिं शोभमानां प्रसाधनैः ।। कुंकुमारुणदेहां तां साक्षाल्लक्ष्मीमिवापराम् ।। ४७ ।। ददर्श विष्णोर्वामस्थां चक्रशाखाग्रनिर्मिताम् ।। बालार्कसदृशीं तीक्ष्णधारां तेजोमयीं द्विजाः ।। ४८ ।। तां दृष्ट्वानन्दपाथोधि निमग्नः पृथिवीपतिः ।। कर्तव्यमूढः स्वतनौ स्वयं न प्रबभूव ह ।। ४९ ।। दरमीलितनेत्रः सन्सृजन्बाष्पांबु केवलम् ।। कृतांजलिपुटस्तस्थौ स्थूणाकारो नृपोत्तमः ।। 2.2.19.५० ।। उवाच तं मुनिवरः स्मितवक्त्रः क्षितीश्वरम् ।। यदर्थं श्रममापन्नस्तत्सांप्रतमभूत्तव ।। ५१ ।। प्रत्यक्षं नृपशार्दूल एकस्त्वं भाग्यवान्भुवि ।। अमुं पश्य जगन्नाथं पुण्डरीकायतेक्षणम् ।। ५२ ।। भक्तानुग्रहपाथोधिं सर्वज्ञाननिधिं हरिम् ।। यं द्रष्टुं योगिनो नित्यं यतंति यतमानसाः ।। ५३ ।। अवधानेन महता क्षणं पश्यन्ति मानवाः ।। सोऽयं दारुमयं देहं समास्थाय जनार्दनः ।। ५४ ।। अनुग्रहीतुं त्वां भूप प्रत्यक्षत्वमुपागतः ।। भजैनं धरणीनाथं स्तुहि कारुण्यसागरम् ।। ५५ ।। ददाति संस्तुतः कामान्सर्वान्नृप मनोगतान् ।। ५६ ।। इति श्रीस्कांदे महापुराण एकाशीतिसाहस्र्यां संहितायां द्वितीये वैष्णवखण्डे पुरुषोत्तमक्षेत्रमाहात्म्ये जैमिनिऋषिसंवाद एकोनविशोऽध्यायः ।। १९ ।।
|| jaiminiruvāca || || tataḥ sa pṛthivīpālastathā kṛtvāṃ'tarikṣagā || yaduvāca girāṃ devī tadvatparicacāra ha || 1 || evaṃ dinedine yāte divyagaṃdho'nubhūyate || pārijātaprasūnānāṃ vṛṣṭirmartyeṣu durlabhā || 2 || divyasaṃgītanādaśca gītāni rucirāṇi ca || svargaṃgājalavṛṣṭiśca sūkṣmabiṃdusuśobhanā || 3 || airāvatādināgānāṃ madagaṃdho vanadvipaiḥ || duḥsahaḥ sarvabhūtānāṃ sukhakāryanubhūyate || 4 || yajñārthamāgatā devāste sarve vigatajvarāḥ || āvirbhūtaṃ hariṃ dṛṣṭvā upāsāṃcakrire dvijāḥ || 5 || yathā hi mādhavaṃ pūrvaṃ tathā taṃ viṣṇuśākhinam || upāsanāsu devānāṃ divyacihnāni jajñire || 6 || nirvavāha svayaṃ devaḥ kramātpaṃcadaśe dine || caturmūrtiḥ sa bhagavānyathā pūrvaṃ mayoditaḥ || 7 || tādṛgāvirbabhūvāsau yuṣmākaṃ varṇitaḥ purā || divyasiṃhāsanagato balabhadrāsudarśanaiḥ || 8 || śaṃkhacakragadāpadmalasadbāhurjanārdanaḥ || gadāmusalacakrābjaṃ dhārayanpannagākṛtiḥ || 9 || chatrākṛtiphaṇāsaptamukuṭojjvalakuṃḍalaḥ || subhadrā cāruvadanā varābjābhayadhāriṇī || 2.2.19.10 || lakṣmīḥ prādurbabhūveyaṃ sarvacaitanyarūpiṇī || iyaṃ kṛṣṇāvatāre hi rohiṇīgarbhasaṃbhavā || 11 || balabhadrākṛtirjātā balarūpasya ciṃtanāt || kṣaṇaṃ na sahate sā hi moktuṃ līlāvatāriṇam|| 12 || na bhedo'stīha ko viprāḥ kṛṣṇasya ca balasya ca || ekagarbhaprasūtatvādvyavahāro'tha laukikaḥ || 13 || bhaginī baladevasyetyeṣā paurāṇikī kathā || puṃrūpe strīsvarūpeṇa lakṣmīḥ sarvatra tiṣṭhati || 14 || puṃnāmnā bhagavānviṣṇuḥ strīnāmnā kamalālayā || devatiryaṅmanuṣyādau vidyate na tayoḥ param|| 15|| ko hyanyaḥ puṃḍarīkākṣādbhuvanāni caturdaśa || dhārayettu phaṇāgreṇa so'naṃto balasaṃjñitaḥ || 16 || tasya śaktisvarūpeyaṃ bhaginī śrīḥ prakīrtitā || sudarśanaṃ tu yaccakraṃ sadā viṣṇoḥ kare sthitam || 17 || śākhāgrastaṃbhamadhyasthaṃ tadrūpaṃ tatturīyakam || evaṃ tu mūrttayastena catasro vai prakāśitāḥ ||18|| nirvṛtte bhagavadrūpe caturddhā divyarūpiṇi || lokānāmupakārāya punarāhāṃtarikṣagā || 19 || paṭairācchādya sudṛḍhaṃ nṛpate pratimāstvimāḥ || svaṃ svaṃ varṇaṃ prāpayāśu varṇakaiścitrakarmaṇā || 2.2.19.20 || nīlābhraśyāmalaṃ viṣṇuṃ śaṃkheṃdudhavalaṃ balam || raktaṃ sudarśanaṃ cakraṃ subhadrāṃ kuṃkumāruṇām || 21 || nānālaṃkārarucirāṃ nānābhaṃgivibhāgaśaḥ || amī dārusvarūpeṇa dṛṣṭāḥ pāpāya hetave || 22 || gopanīyā prayatnena paṭaniryāsavalkalaiḥ || tasmātprathamamevaitāṃstarorevāsya valkalaiḥ || 23 || śilpibhiḥ karmakuśalairdṛḍhamācchādayāgrataḥ || varṣe varṣe ca saṃskāryāḥ pūrvasaṃskāra mocanāt || 24 || ṛte valkalalepaṃ tu sa tu divyaściraṃtanaḥ || pramādādya imaṃ lepamapanīyeta kaścana || 25 || durbhikṣaṃ marakaṃ rāṣṭre saṃtatiścāsya hīyate || nekṣitavyāstvayā rājankadācidapavāraṇāḥ || 26 || manuṣyaiścāpi rājeṃdra dṛṣṭāḥ syurbhayahetavaḥ || tasmātsacitrā draṣṭavyā bahulepavilepitāḥ || 27 || sucitraṃ puṇḍarīkākṣaṃ savilāsaṃ savibhramam || dṛṣṭvā vimucyate pāpaiḥ kalpakoṭisamudbhavaiḥ || 28 || sucitrānkuru rājeṃdra citrānkāmānavāpsyati || āvirbabhūva bhagavāṃstavānugrahakāmyayā || 29 || tava prasādājjaṃtūnāṃ caturvargaṃ pradāsyati || nīlādrau kalpavṛkṣasya vāyavyāṃ śatahastataḥ || 2.2.19.30 || pradeśe sumahatsthāne prāsādaṃ sudṛḍhāyatam || uttare narasiṃhasya sahasrakaramucchritam || 31 || kārayitvā pratiṣṭhāpya tatrainaṃ viniveśaya || purā sthitaṃ parvate'sminyo'bhyarcayati mādhavam || 32 || nāmnā viśvāvasurnāma śabaro vaiṣṇavottamaḥ || purodhasaḥ sakhyamāsīttena sārddhaṃ purā ca te || 33 || tayoḥ saṃtatirevāsya lepasaṃskārakarmaṇi || niyujyatāṃ mahārāja bhaviṣyatsūtsaveṣu ca || 34 || virarāmaitadābhāṣya sā tu divyā sarasvatī || tayopadiṣṭamākarṇya prahṛṣṭenāṃtarātmanā || 39 || veṣṭanaṃ mocayāmāsa mahāvedyā nṛpottamaḥ || dadṛśuste tadā sarve ratnasiṃhāsane sthitam || 36 || rāmaṃ kṛṣṇaṃ subhadrāṃ ca vāsudevaṃ sudarśanam || yathopadiṣṭalepyādisaṃskāre rucirākṛtim || 37 || kṛpayā smeravadanamunnatāyatavakṣasam || dīnānāmuddhṛtau nāthaṃ pralaṃbabhujapaṃjaram || 38 || prabuddhapuṇḍarīkākṣaṃ hāsaśoṇāyatādharam || paśyatāṃ dṛṣṭimātreṇa hartāraṃ pāpasaṃcayam || 39 || padmāsanasthitaṃ kṛṣṇaṃ divyālaṃkārabhūṣitam|| svatejasā parivṛtaṃ dārudehe'pi nirmalam || 2.2.19.40 || nīlajīmūtasaṃkāśaṃ sarvasaṃtāpanāśanam || dadarśa baladevaṃ ca sāṭṭahāsamukhāṃbujam || 41 || phaṇāmaṇḍalavistīrṇaṃ vāruṇīghūrṇitekṣaṇam || protthitaṃ nāgarājānaṃ pīnonnatasuvakṣasam || 42 || kiṃcinnataṃ pṛṣṭhadeśe kuṇḍalīkṛtavigraham || agrasaṃphullakakubhaṃ kailāsaśikharaṃ yathā || 43 || halacakrābjamusaladhāriṇaṃ vanamālinam || hārakuṇḍalakeyūrakirīṭamukuṭojjvalam || 44 || tayormadhye sthitāṃ lakṣmīṃ subhadrāṃ bhadrarūpiṇīm || 45 || sarvadevāraṇīṃ pāpasāgarottārakāriṇīm || vikacāṃbhojavadanāṃ varābjābhayadhāriṇīm || 46 || rūpalāvaṇyavasatiṃ śobhamānāṃ prasādhanaiḥ || kuṃkumāruṇadehāṃ tāṃ sākṣāllakṣmīmivāparām || 47 || dadarśa viṣṇorvāmasthāṃ cakraśākhāgranirmitām || bālārkasadṛśīṃ tīkṣṇadhārāṃ tejomayīṃ dvijāḥ || 48 || tāṃ dṛṣṭvānandapāthodhi nimagnaḥ pṛthivīpatiḥ || kartavyamūḍhaḥ svatanau svayaṃ na prababhūva ha || 49 || daramīlitanetraḥ sansṛjanbāṣpāṃbu kevalam || kṛtāṃjalipuṭastasthau sthūṇākāro nṛpottamaḥ || 2.2.19.50 || uvāca taṃ munivaraḥ smitavaktraḥ kṣitīśvaram || yadarthaṃ śramamāpannastatsāṃpratamabhūttava || 51 || pratyakṣaṃ nṛpaśārdūla ekastvaṃ bhāgyavānbhuvi || amuṃ paśya jagannāthaṃ puṇḍarīkāyatekṣaṇam || 52 || bhaktānugrahapāthodhiṃ sarvajñānanidhiṃ harim || yaṃ draṣṭuṃ yogino nityaṃ yataṃti yatamānasāḥ || 53 || avadhānena mahatā kṣaṇaṃ paśyanti mānavāḥ || so'yaṃ dārumayaṃ dehaṃ samāsthāya janārdanaḥ || 54 || anugrahītuṃ tvāṃ bhūpa pratyakṣatvamupāgataḥ || bhajainaṃ dharaṇīnāthaṃ stuhi kāruṇyasāgaram || 55 || dadāti saṃstutaḥ kāmānsarvānnṛpa manogatān || 56 || iti śrīskāṃde mahāpurāṇa ekāśītisāhasryāṃ saṃhitāyāṃ dvitīye vaiṣṇavakhaṇḍe puruṣottamakṣetramāhātmye jaiminiṛṣisaṃvāda ekonaviśo'dhyāyaḥ || 19 ||
English translation
Jaimini said :
1. Thereafter the king did what the goddess (the ethereal voice) had said: He attended to everything.
2-8. As days passed on, a divine fragrance was experienced. There was a shower of the flowers of Pārijāta that was very rare in the world of human beings. There was the sound of divine music. The songs were very sweet. There was a shower of (tiny drops of) waters of the celestial Gaṅgā , very beautiful and splendid in the form of small drops. The sweet aroma of the ichor of Airāvata and other elephants was experienced. It was unbearable to wild elephants but very pleasing to (other) living beings. All those Devas who had come for the sake of the Yajñas were free from ailments, O Brāhmaṇas . On seeing Hari becoming visible they worshipped him. Just as they worshipped Mādhava before, so also they worshipped the tree of Viṣṇu . In the course of the worship of Devas divine symbols appeared. On the fifteenth day the Lord completed the work. In the manner explained by me before the Lord manifested himself in four forms. It has been described to you before. He was seated in the divine throne along with Bala , Subhadrā and Sudarśana .
Janārdana has conch, discus, iron club and lotus shining in his hands.
9-15. Balabhadra has the shape of a serpent. He holds iron club, mace, discus and lotus. He has seven hoods in the form of an umbrella shining with crowns and also ear-rings.
Subhadrā of charming face, granting boons and immunity from fear (through the positions of her fingers) holds a lotus (in her hand). This is the manifestation of Lakṣmī who has been the embodiment of the consciousness of everyone. Indeed in the course of the incarnation as Kṛṣṇa she was born of the womb of Rohiṇī (?) [1] and had the forms pf Bala and Bhadrā (i.e. Subhadrā) since she contemplated on the form of Bala. She could not bear even for a moment separation from the Lord of sportful incarnation. There is no difference at all between Kṛṣṇa and Bala.
Since they were born of the same womb, the story in the Purāṇa says that she is the sister of Baladeva . So is the way in which ordinary people also mention it.
This is the case when she has the male form (?). In the female form as Lakṣmī she stays everywhere. By a male name she is Lord Viṣṇu and by a female name she is Kamalālayā (‘lotus-aboded one’). Among Devas, lower animals, human beings etc. there is none greater than they.
16. Who else other than the lotus-eyed Lord can bear the fourteen worlds? Ananta bears them with the tips of his hoods. He is called Bala.
17. His sister Śrī is glorified in the form of his Śakti . The discus Suḍarśana is always present in the hand of Viṣṇu.
18. It is at the tip of the branch and stationed in the middle of the pillar (?). That is the fourth form (of the Lord). Thus the four forms were revealed by him.
19. When the fourfold divine form of the Lord was completed, the ethereal voice said once again for helping the worlds:
20. “Cover these idols completely. Through paints give appropriate colour to everyone of them in an agreeable way.
21-24. Viṣṇu must be dark-coloured like a blue cloud. Bala should be white like a conch or the Moon. The discus Sudarśana should be red. Subhadrā should be tawny-coloured like saffron. She should be beautifully adorned with different ornaments and the curves and contours should be properly depicted.
If these idols are seen as wooden pieces, they are conducive to sin. They should be carefully concealed with cloths, resin-like exudations or bark garments. Hence at the very outset get all these covered with the barks of this very tree by craftsmen who are experts in their respective jobs. Every, year they must be adorned and embellished after removing the previous ones.
25-28. Without the bark-garments and the unguents it is divine and eternal (?)
If anyone were to remove the unguent inadvertently, there will be famine and pestilence in the kingdom. His line of progeny will become extinct. O king, they should not be ever seen by you without a covering. O great king, if they are seen so by ordinary men, they will cause fear. Hence they should be seen in agreeable colours and smeared with many unguents.
By seeing the lotus-eyed Lord in agreeable colour with beauty, grace and elegance, one is liberated from sins accumulated in the course of crores of Kalpas .
29-34. Make them variegated and agreeable, O great king. You will get wonderful objects desired by you. The Lord has manifested himself with a desire to bless you. Since he is pleased with you, he will grant all the four aims of life to all living beings.
On Nīla mountain, about a hundred Hastas (i.e. about 45 Metres) to the north-west of the Kalpa tree (Banyan tree), and on the northern side of Narasiṃha in a large piece of land get a Mansion built. It should be large and firm. It should be a thousand Hastas high (i.e. 450 Metres). There install the Lord.
Formerly when the Lord was on that mountain, a Śabara named Viśvāvasu , an excellent devotee of Viṣṇu, used to worship Mādhava. Your priest became an intimate friend of his on that occasion. Only the descendants of these two should be employed, O great king, in the job of smearing the unguents or adorning the Lord in future festivals.”
35-41a. After speaking this the divine speech ceased.
On hearing what was instructed by it the excellent king became extremely delighted within himself. He unveiled the great Altar. At that time all of them saw Lord Kṛṣṇa, son of Vasudeva , Rāma , Subhadrā and Sudarśana. The Lord was seated on a gem-set throne. All the idols were charming in their features with the unguents smeared and the limbs duly adorned. He saw Lord Kṛṣṇa with a kind and beaming face. The chest was broad and projecting forward. He had long brawny arms capable of uplifting the poor. His eyes resembled full-blown lotuses. There was a gentle smile on the broad lips. By his mere glance he could dispel the mass of sins of those who view him. He was seated in the lotus-posture. He was embellished with divine ornaments. He was surrounded by his own refulgence. Even in that wooden form he was free from impurities. He resembled a blue cloud. He was the destroyer of all distresses.
41b-44. He saw Baladeva with a face giving boisterous laughter. He had extensive circular hoods and eyes rolling on account of (the intake of) liquor. He was the rising king of serpents with a thick and muscular chest. He had a slight depression on his back. He had his body coiled up. He appeared like the peak of Kailāsa with an Arjuna tree in full bloom on its top. He held plough, discus, lotus and iron club. He had a garland of sylvan flowers. He was remarkably resplendent with necklaces, ear-rings, armlets, coronets and crowns.
45-47. He saw in between them Lakṣmī (who was) Subhadrā of gentle form, [2] the source of origin of all the Devas, the goddess who took the (devotee) across the ocean of sins, whose face was like a full-blown lotus, who held a lotus and gesticulated granting of boons and immunity from fear (by means of her fingers), who was the abode of beauty, grace and charm, who shone splendidly with ornaments and whose body was tawny-coloured like saffron. She appeared like another Lakṣmī in person. She was installed on the left side of Viṣṇu.
48-50. He saw the discus (Sudarśana) that had been made out of tips of the branches. It resembled the rising Sun. It had sharp edges. It was excessively refulgent, O Brāhmaṇas.
On seeing all of them the king became immersed in the ocean of bliss. He was confused as to what he should do. He was not capable of sustaining his own body.
The excellent king stood just like a stump with palms joined in reverence. With the eyes slightly closed he simply shed tears (of joy).
51. The excellent sage spoke to the lord of the earth, with a smile on his face: “That for which you exerted yourself has taken effect now.
52-53. It is evident now, O tiger among kings, that you are the only person fortunate on the earth. See this Lord of the universe with large eyes resembling lotus, Hari, the ocean of blessings unto the devotees, the storehouse of all knowledge. The Yogins of restrained minds strive forever to see him.
54-56. Men see him for a moment with great concentration. That Janārdana has taken up a wooden body and has become directly perceptible, O king, in order to bless you.
Worship this Lord of the earth. Eulogize the ocean of kindness. On being eulogized, O king he will grant you everything that you desire in your mind.”
[1]: [1] : But in Mbh, Ādi. 217 she is Devakī’s daughter.
[2]: [2] : It is not known why the Purāṇa confuses Subhadrā with Lakṣmī. Subhadrā’s sister-wife relation with Kṛṣṇa reminds one of the Rāma-Sītā (sister-wife) relation in the Pali Dasaratha Jātaka .
Complete chapter-aligned witnesses. Sanskrit Wikisource page 22931, revision 71096 (2016-06-11T11:00:12Z). English is G. V. Tagare’s complete translation, controlled against its chapter page at https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-skanda-purana/d/doc370739.html and the archival publication witness. The witnesses are aligned at chapter level; no unsupported verse-by-verse equivalence is asserted.